Spain Cruise from Barcelona — 21 Days

20 nights · Spain · Departs Barcelona (Spain) · Visiting Marseille, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Porto Santo Stefano, Naples, Palermo, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Lisbon, Casablanca, Tangier, Malaga, Motril · Aboard MSC Explora Journeys on the MSC Explora 1

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MSC Explora 1
aerial view of city buildings during daytime Marseille Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Villefranche-sur-Mer Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Porto Santo Stefano Cruise Port
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Image courtesy of MSC Explora Journeys ©

Cruise lineMSC Explora Journeys
ShipMSC Explora 1
Duration20 nights
Port calls14
From fare$15,130 per person
Year built2023
Guests1473
Cabins461
Crew640
Length248 m
Beam32 m
Cruising speed18.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Barcelona, Spain

    Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.

  2. Day 2

    Marseille, France

    Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, and it still faces the Mediterranean with confidence. Begin at the Vieux-Port, where fishing boats share the waterfront with cafés and ferries bound for nearby islands. Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for sweeping views, or explore Le Panier’s narrow lanes and lively squares. The Calanques’ limestone coves lie beyond the city; local markets bring Provençal flavors closer.

  3. Day 3

    Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

    Villefranche-sur-Mer makes an unusually graceful first impression: pastel houses rise above one of the Riviera’s deepest natural harbors. Wander the old town’s narrow lanes, then visit the 16th-century citadel and its museums. Jean Cocteau’s painted Chapel of Saint-Pierre adds a distinctive local detail. Nearby trains connect you with Nice; roads lead to Èze and the wider Côte d’Azur.

  4. Day 4

    Porto Santo Stefano, Italy

    Porto Santo Stefano brings you to Monte Argentario, where Tuscany meets the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its curved harbor remains a working port, lined with cafés, seafood restaurants, and boats bound for Giglio Island. Climb to the 16th-century Spanish Fortress for sweeping views across the waterfront and islands. Beyond town, coves and clear water reward a drive along the peninsula’s rugged coast.

  5. Day 5

    Naples, Italy

    Naples puts its history within reach: the port opens onto a compact city framed by Mount Vesuvius and the bay. UNESCO-listed streets lead to churches, palaces and the everyday theatre of southern Italian life. At the National Archaeological Museum, mosaics and objects from Pompeii and Herculaneum bring the Roman world sharply into focus. Stay close for Neapolitan pizza, or use Naples as a springboard to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Capri.

  6. Day 6

    Palermo, Italy

    Palermo rewards curious travellers with a vivid mix of Arab-Norman architecture, lively markets and Sicilian cooking. Start at the cathedral, where Norman, Gothic and Baroque details reflect the city’s layered past. Then walk through the Capo market or visit the Palatine Chapel, famed for its Byzantine mosaics. Leave time for pasta con le sarde or arancini; Palermo’s strongest impressions often arrive at the table.

  7. Day 8

    Ibiza, Spain

    Ibiza Town rewards a day ashore with more than its famous nightlife. Above the working harbor, Dalt Vila climbs within Renaissance walls, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Follow steep lanes to the cathedral and castle, where views sweep across the port and Mediterranean. Below, cafés, galleries and boutiques bring quieter pleasures to the waterfront and old quarter. Come early for history and cooler streets; linger into evening as harbor lights begin to glow.

  8. Day 9

    Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Palma rewards an unhurried first walk. From the waterfront, the Gothic towers of La Seu rise above the old city, a landmark shaped over centuries. Inside, soaring columns and Antoni Gaudí’s modernist contributions add a striking note. Beyond the cathedral, lanes lead to shaded courtyards, shops and cafés serving local ensaimada. For a wider view, take a taxi to Bellver Castle, whose circular form overlooks the bay.

  9. Day 10

    Barcelona, Spain

    Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.

  10. Day 11

    Alicante, Spain

    Alicante makes a graceful first impression: its Mediterranean harbour opens onto a lively, walkable city centre. Ride the lift to Santa Bárbara Castle, perched on Mount Benacantil, for sweeping views across rooftops and sea. Below, old-quarter lanes lead to the Basilica of Santa Maria and the Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas. Stroll the palm-lined Explanada de España, then try turrón, Alicante’s famed almond-and-honey confection. Beaches, cafés and the Archaeological Museum offer rewarding stops within easy reach of the harbour.

  11. Day 13

    Lisbon, Portugal

    Lisbon is a city best approached with time and comfortable shoes. Its seven hills rise above the Tagus, linking tiled lanes, grand squares and viewpoints with wide river views. In Alfama, narrow streets preserve the feel of old Lisbon. In Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery and Tower recall Portugal’s age of discovery. Pause for coffee and a warm pastel de nata between sights.

  12. Day 15

    Casablanca, Morocco

    Casablanca is Morocco’s commercial capital, where Atlantic breezes meet broad boulevards and a lively medina. Begin at the Hassan II Mosque, whose vast prayer hall and soaring minaret stand beside the ocean. Then explore the French-era Art Deco centre, or browse the lanes of the Habous quarter for pastries, crafts and bookshops. Casablanca rewards curiosity with a modern Morocco shaped by trade, architecture and daily life.

  13. Day 17

    Tangier, Morocco

    Tangier faces Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Walk its medina’s steep lanes past whitewashed houses and shops selling leather, ceramics, and spices. At the Kasbah, find sea views and the former sultan’s palace, now a museum. Beyond the old walls, cafés and boulevards recall the city’s international past. Visit the American Legation, the first U.S. diplomatic property abroad. Or drive to Cap Spartel, where Atlantic and Mediterranean waters meet.

  14. Day 18

    Malaga, Spain

    Málaga is more than a gateway to Andalusia; it is a port city with a confident life of its own. In the old centre, the Roman Theatre sits below the Moorish Alcazaba, while the cathedral rises above nearby streets. Visit the Picasso Museum or his birthplace, then try grilled sardines and local wine at a pavement table. The Mediterranean is close: city beaches, Atarazanas Market and palm-lined promenades make lingering easy.

  15. Day 19

    Motril, Spain

    Motril is a working port on Granada’s Mediterranean coast, backed by the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It puts the Alhambra and historic centre of Granada within reach, as well as the white villages of the Alpujarras. In town, explore Motril’s sugar-cane legacy, browse local produce, and sample seafood from the Costa Tropical. For a slower day, beaches and palm-lined promenades keep the coast close.

  16. Day 21

    Barcelona, Spain

    Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.

MSC Explora 1 Cruises

Published September 15, 2026
Last updated October 13, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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